Are We There Yet?: Fancy a bit of French fun for Easter?

If, like me, you've been racking your brains for something to do over the Easter holidays, fret no more. These last-minute offerings in unspoilt rural France are perfect for instilling a little family 'joie de vivre' - and you can practise your Franglais to boot.

First stop is Simply Perigord (00 33 55 354 5431; simply-perigord.com), which still has a variety of alluring properties available in south-west France, including a lovely old stone house on the banks of the Dordogne, where the kids can go canoeing, explore troglodyte caves and take boat trips up the river.

Inntravel (01653 617906; inntravel.co.uk), too, has some family mini-breaks for active types over Easter. Its riding holidays at Les Juliannes cater for all abilities. You get to stay in a lovely old 17th-century farmhouse, and, when you're not in the saddle, you can explore the surrounding vineyards and medieval villages at your leisure.

But if you're after something a little more sedentary, check out Sanctuary Villas and Apartments (01242 547906; sanctuary-villas.com), which has just signed up a new luxury villa in the south of France, with availability over the Easter period. Villa St Paul is a modern property in the medieval town of Saint Paul de Vence, near Nice. Facilities include a heated swimming pool, spacious gardens, boules pitches, and plenty of 'je ne sais quoi'.